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Research: GAYTAN and PRISANT,
Listed in Issue 78
Abstract
GAYTAN and PRISANT, Section of Cardiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912-3105, USA, reviewed (178 references) available published research data on the efficacy and safety of popular nutritional supplements used to treat heart disease.
Background
The use of nutritional supplements in the treatment of cardiovascular disease is growing rapidly in the USA. Many substances are marketed with anecdotal claims of efficacy. Most have not been scientifically studied. Excitement exists in the lay press about the homocysteine hypothesis of coronary artery disease and vitamin cures.
Methodology
The authors undertook a MEDLINE search and review of papers covering the study of popular nutritional supplements. Papers were limited to peer-review journals using patient series reports, double-blinded prospective studies, and population studies. The reviewers obtained a compendium of the available data and analysed each paper’s methodology.
Results
A review of the most popular and most studied oral nutritional supplements for the treatment of heart disease demonstrated relatively few well-founded indications for the widespread application of the nutritional substances, with the exception of bioflavonoids. Some modest effects on endothelial dysfunction were noted for vitamins C and E. Red wines and beers were also noted to be beneficial. The majority of nutritional substances either had no effect or were deleterious.
Conclusion
References
Gaytan RJ, Prisant LM. Oral nutritional supplements and heart disease: a review. American Journal of Therapeutics 8 (4): 255-74. Jul-Aug 2001.
Comment
It may be fair comment that nutritional supplements are not a universal panacea or cure for coronary heart disease; however, in light of the large body of clinical evidence demonstrating significant therapeutic effects of a wide variety of supplements, (there are 340 items about heart disease on Positive Health’s website alone!), it appears to be a bit rich to suggest that supplements may be harmful. @i:71
